Candy is tasty, but that does not mean that it is safe for dogs to consume. During special seasons like Christmas and Halloween, it is expected that you want to let your four-legged furry friend enjoy a special treat, and candy might be at the top of your list. However, you have to consider some factors before you go ahead with this decision.
Can dogs eat candy? No, because sugar, in general, is not good for your pooch. Besides, candies are usually sweetened with xylitol, a chemical that can adversely affect your canine. Skittles, candy corn, Smarties, Starburst, sour candy, and Jolly Ranchers, in particular, should not be given to your four-legged furry friend.
It is imperative that you understand the safety of candy for your canine to know whether your pooch can have it or not. This article will furnish you with the information you need regarding the safety of candy for your four-legged furry friend.
What Happens If My Dog Eats Candy?
If your dog eats candy, the first thing you have to observe is the type and quantity. If it is a little amount, then there is no cause for alarm.
Yet, even a little quantity of any of the six candies mentioned earlier can be dangerous because they can lead to liver failure.
Candy Ingredients Toxic To Dogs
The main reason candy can harm your pooch is due to some toxic ingredients it contains. These substances can have adverse effects on the health of your canine. Some of them include:
- Xylitol
- Chocolate
Xylitol
Xylitol is usually used as a sweetener for candy. It is a sugar alcohol that is toxic to dogs because it can damage their liver. It is usually added to sugar-free items to improve their taste.
However, it is becoming a popular ingredient for everyday food items in recent times. So, if your dog eats candy, check the label to find out if it contains this substance. If the result is positive, see your vet as soon as possible.
Chocolate
Candy flavored with chocolate can harm your dog because it contains theobromine. Theobromine can hurt dogs because it impairs their ability to metabolize.
If the candy your pooch ate contains chocolate, observe closely for a while to detect anything unusual. If it is a young or pregnant dog, see your vet immediately.
Also, if your canine has a health condition, seek the attention of your vet as soon as possible after consuming chocolate candy due to the implications chocolate may have on its condition.
Nutritional Analysis Of Candy For Dogs
Due to their sweet tooth, dogs will voraciously consume candy if presented to them. Yet, it does not mean that it is nutritious to them. Just like kids, dogs do not consider the health implication of what they eat. As long as it is tasty, they will consume it. Therefore, you have to take responsibility to ensure that your pooch only consumes healthy food.
Candy is full of sugar, which is generally not harmful to canines. However, a little extra of it can cause health complications, such as diarrhea and vomiting. So, ensure that your pooch does not consume candy in any quantity above 0.35 ounces. As mentioned early, you should also watch out for xylitol on the label because this substance can lead to liver failure.
Moreover, the texture of the candy should also be considered before you allow your dog to eat it. Hard candies can fracture the teeth of your dog. Therefore, you should not base your judgment regarding the safety of candy for your canine on the love of your pooch for it. You should consider the following factors:
- The texture of the candy
- Ingredients used for making the candy
- The quantity to be consumed
- Health history of the dog
Are Dogs Allergic To Candy?
It is essential that you know if candy is one of the allergies of your dog. It is not every canine that is allergic to candy, especially in little amounts. If your four-legged furry friend is allergic to candy, you will notice symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, and coordination issues after the pooch eat candy.
Health Hazards Of Candy For Dogs
Candy for dogs can be dangerous, but it is not always fatal. It can lead to obesity and poor dental health. You might feel that sugar in candy should be a source of carbohydrates for your pooch. However, your canine already gets more than needed from the daily diet. So, additional sugar will only lead to health complications like diarrhea and vomiting.
Poor Dental Health
There are several ways candy can have a negative impact on the dental health of your dog. Due to its high sugar content, it can add to the plaque buildup in the teeth of your dog.
Besides, it can easily get stuck to the teeth of your canine, where it will rot and lead to tooth decay. Also, as mentioned earlier, hard candy may fracture your dog’s teeth.
Liver Failure
Candy that contains xylitol, in particular, can damage the kidney of your canine. Ingestion of this substance leads to massive insulin release, which leads to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Consequently, your dog will demonstrate symptoms such as collapse, stumbling, weakness, and seizures in some cases. What follows this stage is the development of liver disease. Once you notice these signs, do not hesitate to seek the attention of your vet.
Health Implications Of Candy For Dogs
Researchers have discovered that eating candy offers the following benefits:
- Improvement of mental health
- Restoration of willpower
- Increase in lifespan
- Creation of new blood vessels
Chocolate is also helpful for people dealing with depression, but this doesn’t apply to dogs. You will be making a big mistake if you think that these benefits apply to dogs.
Pooches do not have the same digestive system as humans. Therefore, do not allow guilt to make you give your pooch candy as a treat for the sake of it. You might inadvertently make your dog suffer liver failure, diabetes, and diarrhea in the process.
It is not a good feeling to realize that your carelessness and insensitivity are responsible for the ill health of your pooch. So, you have to be careful when it comes to what you allow your dog to eat.
Is Candy Unhealthy?
Candy in small quantities will not hurt your dog in the absence of previous health issues. Also, if the product does not contain xylitol and chocolate, it can be safe for your pooch as an occasional treat.
However, if your dog consumes candy in large quantities, it can lead to obesity and low blood sugar. Meanwhile, low blood sugar makes your canine at risk of liver failure.
Is It OK For Dogs To Have Candy?
Dog owners have to be interested in knowing whether their pooches can eat candy. It is an important question because it can help you to understand whether your canine can have it and the quantity it can consume.
Candy is generally safe for dogs in small quantities, but you have to watch out for the ingredients and health history of your pooch.
Dogs Love A Tasty Candy
The composition of the taste bud of dogs makes them able to enjoy candy. Pooches can taste sweet food thanks to a chemical known as furaneol. This substance is present in most fruits and can also be found in tomatoes. Generally, canines love sugary foods, and that is why it is not surprising that they find candy tasty.
Yet, eating candy is not always in their best interest. Indeed, they need sugar in the form of carbohydrates, and they can get it from candy. Still, granulated sugar and sweets are not your best options.
Rather, choose natural sugar from fruits, which is known as fructose. Note that it is not every fruit that is safe for your canine. You should avoid grapes because they can damage the kidney of your dog.
Besides, your pooch can get the required sugar from the daily diet. So, there is no point in giving your canine candy for the sake of offering carbohydrates to your pooch. Do not let the fact that your dog loves the taste of candy determine your decision. You should be more concerned about the health implication of allowing your pooch have the treat.
Can Dogs Have A Little Bit Of Candy?
In the absence of health considerations such as your dog’s health history, then a little bit of candy will not hurt your pooch. However, if your dog is obese or diabetic, you should not let your pooch go close to candy. Exposure to candy can only exacerbate the situation of such canines, and the impact can be fatal. The result of eating candy is not usually fatal.
Still, it can lead to the death of your four-legged furry friend due to complications. Therefore, you cannot afford to be careless about what your dog eats. Your pooch is in your care. So, you have to protect your canine, and ensuring that your dog eats only beneficial food is one of the most important ways you can demonstrate this.
A dog owner that allows his diabetic or obese dog to have candy is more like an irresponsible father that allows his son to eat anything that is tasty. Your child might cry because he does not understand your decision, but he will be grateful to you for protecting him later. In the same way, you have to look out for your pooch.
